Congress Raises the Legal Age to Buy Tobacco and Vaping Products to 21

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Americans under the age of 21 will now be barred from purchasing tobacco products.

The measure had bipartisan support in Congress, including from Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. PresidentDonald Trumphas also previously supported the idea of raising the legal tobacco-buying age, according to theWashingtonPost.

Kaine celebrated the news on Twitter.

“Our bill to raise the tobacco age to 21 just passed!” he tweeted on Thursday. “This is an enormous victory for the health of young people. By raising the age to buy tobacco products nationwide, we can save 223,000 lives and reduce youth tobacco use. A big step forward to improve public health.”

McConnell said that interest in the bill increased after the rise of vaping-related illnesses over the last six months.

“Since I introduced my legislation earlier this year to raise the minimum nationwide purchase age for tobacco products from 18 to 21, stories of vaping related illnesses and deaths — especially among young people — have stunned Kentucky and the nation,” McConnell said in a statement.

“I’m grateful to the communities, the health advocates and my fellow elected officials, including President Trump and Senators Todd Young and Mitt Romney, who have joined Senator Kaine and me to address this urgent crisis and keep these dangerous products away from our children,” the statement continued.

According to thePreventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation, there are already state laws in 19 states, plus Washington, D.C., that prevent tobacco sales to anyone under 21. Hundreds of cities have also raised the age.

source: people.com